Suture making apparatus



May 18, 1948.

T. R. SELBY EI'AL- SU'I'URE MAKING APPARATUS Original File d Aug.- 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 k l l 5! g f I l I f/zeo am aez,

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- -SU'I'URE MAKING AP PARATUS 7 Original Filed Aug. 24, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 18,

cago, Ili.,

assimors to Wilson a Company, Inc.,

a corporation of Delaware Original application August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,464. Divided and this application May 16,

1946, Serial No. 670,189

9 Claims. 1

for the manufacture of continuous sutures.

This application is a divisional application of ourcopending application entitled Manufacture of sutures, filed on August 24, 1945, as Serial No. 612,464, now Patent No. 2,438,131.

The present practice in the manufacture of sutures having a. small number of individual strands is to make up individual lengths of material, which lengths of course are limited by the length ofthe casings employed. In the manufacture of a continuous suture of this type, for example by the process described in Selby application Serial No. 536,055, filed May 17, 1944, now Patent No. 2,391,483, issued Dec. 25, 1945, the difllculty encountered is that the feeding of a make-up strand to the string materially increases the diameter at the point of overlap and this increase is suflicient to eliminate the string for the finest type of suture work. Like- Wise loose ends of material are likely to project from the string when following the Selby method, which ends are of no importance for most work but are undesirable for certain types of operations. I

The present product, method, and apparatus eliminate these difliculties. This is particularly true with strings or sutures in which normally only three strands of easing are employed.

In accordance with this invention thecasings are split longitudinally, the smooth side splits oi the casings are selected which curl inwardly at the edges, the casings are provided with an evenly distributed amount of water, the casings are subjected to pressure such that the water therein is squeezed laterally outward to force the casing into a flat surface, the amount of residual water being such as to leave th casing in its natural adhesive state, make-up strands are very slightly overlapped at the termination of each strand, the flattened casings are rolled into 'a spiral, the spiral is flattened, the flattened spiral is again curled and is then passed through a sizing die and twisted to final condition, all of this occurring while the casings retain plasticity.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of apparatus; Fig. 2 is aplain view thereof; Fig. 3a. is a side elevation partly in section of the central portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3b is a side elevation of the spinner; Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away. of. the structure shown in Fig. 3a; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the spinner; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3b; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'l-l in Fig. 3b; (and Figs. 8 to 16 inclusive are diagrammatic views in the nature of a flow sheet illustrating the progress of the formation of the finished suture); Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating from left to right the arrangement of. the original casings, the flattening of the casings, and the spiraling thereof; Fig. 9 is-a continuation of Fig. 8 showing from left to right the spiral-casing, the flattened spiral, a curled spiral, and the final cord or string; Fig. 10 continues from Fig. 9 and shows the final cord first in an untwisted and then in a twisted form; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line ll--ll in Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a similar view along the line l2.l2 in Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a similar view along the line l3-l3 in Fig. 8; Fig. 14 is a similar view along the line I4-i4 in Fig. 9; Fig. 15.is a similar view along the line l5-I5 in Fig. 9; and Fig. 16 is a similar view along the line |6-I6 in Fig. 10, but in thiscase the forming rolls have also been added in the illustration.

The invention is perhaps best described by briefly referring to Figs. 8 to 16 before describing the apparatus. As there shown, the individual casings, 20, 20a and 201) which have been split and are uniformly supplied with moisture,

have the form shown in Fig. 11 with the edges strand. will be placed over the end of another,

as shown in Fig. 8. The amount of overlap is very small, normally about inch.

The strands are then pressed, during which pressing the water is forced outwardly and strains the strands into the form shown in Fig. 12. The strands are placed so that the edges overlap longitudinally as indicated, for example, at 2|. The composite sheet 22 thus formed is rolled into the spiral 23 shown in Fig. 13, and this spiral is then pressed into a ribbon 24 shown in Fig. 14, and in Fig. 9. This ribbon is then again curled, as shown in Figs. 9 and 15, into a coil 25 and this coil is then passed through a sizing diev to form a cylindrical string or cord 26 as shown in Figs. 9, and 16; anti this cord is then twisted as shown in Fig. 10 to form the final suture 21.

The apparatus for carrying out these steps is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. This includes a primary conveyor belt 30 which brings the individually split casings to the equalizing water bath 3| from which the casings are drawn onto the secondary conveyor belt 32. It will be noted that the lip of the equalizing bath 3| immediately abuts the conveyor belt 32. This is designed so that the water level at which the casings are placed will not be materially below the pickup edge of the belt. This reduces almost to zero the strain on the casings which otherwise would be different at dif- I ferent stages of withdrawal from the bath. The water content of the casing, is, therefore, substantially equalized throughout its length. Referring further to Figs. 1 and 2, the casings are then passed to the forming section 33 and then to the spinning section 24 and the spooling section 35.

Referring to Figs. 3a and 4, the split casings are brought to the equalizing bath along the conveyor belt which is suitably of canvas. The casings are drawn onto this belt from a soaking bath in which they have been immersed so as to have substantially maximum moisture content, and at a suitable pH for maximum adhesiveness. The withdrawal of casings from such a bath in the normal manner may provide an unequal amount of moisture in some parts of the casing and it is, therefore, preferred to pass the casings to the equalizing bath. Such a bath is shown at 3|, the casings passing into that bath from the conveyor 30. In this bath any portions of the casings which are deficient in water recover the deficiency and are then passed to the secondary conveyor belt 32 which is so positioned as to put substantially no stress or strain on the casings. It will be observed that belts 30 and 32 are relatively close together so that the individual casing will, except for a short interval at the beginning and at the end thereof, be carried by both belts 30 and 32 while a. loop thereof is submerged in the bath 3| The casings are arranged on the belt 32 substantially as shown at the left side of Fig. 8. As before stated, when a casing reaches the end, the operator places a new casing in parallel relationship to the others (and to the first if desired), and slightly overlapping the end of the first casing.

The casings are then passed to the rolls 35 and 36. One of the rolls 35 is cloth coated, the cloth 'in which case the moisture supplying edge is the downcoming edge. I

The ribbon 22 so formed is then passed between the vertical axis rollers 3! and 29 which roll it into a spiral 22 shown in Fig. 8. This spiral then passes to the horizontal rolls II and M which flatten it into the ribbon or tap 2, shown in Fig. 14. This multi-ply tape is then passed between vertical rollers 42 and 43 and rolled into the coil 25.

This coil then passes through the rollers 44 and 45 which are grooved to form a circular central opening 48, as indicated in Fig. 16, which acts as a sizingdie to form the circular cylindrical cord 26. At this stage the casing still retains plasticity by reason of its moisture content.

The cord 2! is then twisted while still plastic to equalize the tension and avoid separation of the strands under subsequent operations. While spun, it is stretched progressively about 5% to after which it is snooled.

The spinning device is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Figs. 3b, 5, 6 and 7. The cord enters the device through the hollow shaft 50, and is drawn therefrom over the pulley 56 onto the drums 52. tapered outwardly from left to right to provide the stretch hereinbefore described. The direction of movement of the shaft is indicated in 30 Fig. 6, being clockwise as viewed therein. Both of the drums rotate counterclockwise but the spider 51 upon which the drums are mounted rotates clockwise. From the drums the twisted cord is fed over the pulley 55 to the spool 56.

35 The drums 52 and 53 are carried on spiders El and 58. These are driven by the gears 59 and 60 which in turn are driven by the sleeve gear 6i. By changing the gear ratios of 59, SI! and 6| the amount of forward feed of the suture relative to the number of twists may be adjusted.

being thick enoughto absorb a substantial quantity of water. Preferably this is the bottom roll. The other roll is a metal roll, preferably steel. The rolls are pressed together in. any suitable fashion. Under the pressure, the water content in the casing is squeezed laterally and forces the edges of the casing. outwardly into overlapping position, as indicated in Fig. 8.

In this position the overlapping casings stick together to form a ribbon. Water dripping from the rolls may be caught in the pan 31. It is probably not necessary to explain that the water does not pass through the casing but is forced out at the edges thereof. The cloth absorbs water and the upcoming side thereof actually supplies moisture to the casings, thus having a slight tendency to overcome any inequality in moisture distribution. This tendency is more pronounced if the cloth is above rather than below the casings,

Normally from two to eight twists per inch are provided.

The length of the drums 52 and 53 is such as to permit a suture to dry from a plastic to a nonplastic state in passage thereover, and, as already pointed out, during this period the cord is stretched from 5% to 7%.

The shaft 50, the drums 52 and 53, the spiders 51 and 58, and the spool 56 may all be driven by the motor 62 which has a driving connection with the gear 83 and which in turn drives gear 84 mounted directly on the shaft. It is also in driving connection with gear 85 which drives gear 66 through an idler. Gear 86 is mounted on a sleeve 61 carrying the gear ii.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

We claim:

1. Gut sizing apparatus comprising means for sup lying an equalized amount of water to split casings, means for progressively feeding moist split casings in parallel side by side relationship, moisture expressing means in the path of said feeding means for expressing water laterally of the casings and forming them into a composite ribbon by overlapping of their edges during the expressing operation, means for folding the ribbon longitudinally to form a tape, means for forming the tape into a cylindrical body, and means for twisting the tape under tension.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which means are provided for drying the twisted gut under stretching tension.

These drums are slightly Apparatus of the character described in claim 3 including means for twisting the cord under tension.

5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 3 including means for twisting and drying the cord under stretching tension.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim 3 including means for drying and twisting the cord under stretching tension comprising: a

I rotatably mounted spider, a plurality of rotatable so shafts mounted on the spider, a tapered drum mounted on each .of said shafts, means for retating the drums, means for rotating the spider in a direction opposite to the rotation of the wound on that end of said drums having the smaller diameter and unwound from that end'of drums, means whereby the cord is twisted and 25 the drums having the larger diameter and takeup means for taking up the cord as it is unwound from said drums.

7. Gut sizing apparatus for continuously stranding a plurality of gut strips comprising: a belt conveyor adapted to be moved continuously to feed a plurality of moistened gut strips. in side by side relationship. a first pair of rolls adjacent one end of the conveyor and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions to press gut fed thereto by the conveyor into a ribbon, a pair of sizing rollers to curl the ribbon formed by the first pair of rolls into a spiral, a second pair of rolls adapted to be rotated in opposite directions to press the spiral into a tape, a second pair of sizing rollers to curl the tape into a coil, sizing means to form the coil into a cylindrical cord and means for moving the belt and rotating the rolls.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 7 in which the said sizing means comprises a third pair of rolls, said third pair of rolls being grooved to form a central circular opening to act as a sizing die.

9. Apparatus of the character described in claim 7 including means for drying and twisting the cord under stretching tension comprising: a rotatably mounted spider, a plurality of rotatable shafts mounted on the spider, a tapered drum mounted on each of said shafts, means for rotating the drums, means for rotating the spider in a direction opposite 'to the rotation of the drums, means whereby the cord is twisted and wound on that end of said drums having the smaller diameter and unwound from that end of the drums having the larger diameter and takeup means for taking up the cord as it is unwound from said drums.

T. R. SELBY.

LYMAN L. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 35 Number Name Date 1,777,568 La Seur Oct. 7, 1930 2,227,699 Brownell Jan. "I, 1941 2,391,483

' Selby Dec. 25, 1945 

